§ Mr. Stratton Millsasked the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what arrangements exist for Her Majesty's Government to provide financial assistance for investigations by consulting engineers in underdeveloped overseas territories, thereby helping the development of those countries and assisting British suppliers of construction materials, plant and machinery; and if he will make a statement.
§ Mr. WoodAn important feature of Her Majesty's Government's aid to developing countries has for some time been the provision of the services of British consultants, in response to requests for assistance from the Government of the country concerned, to carry out economic and feasibility studies or other pre-investment investigations relating to worthwhile development. The number of such investigations by British consulting engineers which have been approved in the last three financial years, and the total aid commitments involved, are as follows:
Numbers approved Value £ 1968–69 37 1,107,620 1969–70 32 951,685 1970–71 39 1,470,520